Glamorgan can't find way past Mitchell

A defiant unbeaten century from captain Daryl Mitchell gave Worcestershire hope on the opening day of their Championship Division Two clash with Glamorgan. Mitchell reached 101 not out off 294 balls, notching 11 fours along the way, but he received little support from his team-mates as Glamorgan's Graham Wagg and Dean Cosker finished with four wickets apiece.

Glamorgan's attack got off to an impressive start, bowling three maidens in the first four overs, which also saw allrounder Wagg claim the first wicket of the day. Matthew Pardoe edged the fourth ball of Wagg's second over to Gareth Rees at third slip as the left-armer continued an impressive run of form that has seen him go joint top of the Professional Cricketers' Association's MVP rankings.

Mitchell and Tom Kohler-Cadmore joined forces at 3 for 1 and looked to steady the ship, but their partnership yielded only 30 runs before the latter fell lbw to Jim Allenby. The visitors introduced debutant Alex Hales, who is on loan from Nottinghamshire, and he added 15 runs before becoming Wagg's second victim as Worcestershire headed into lunch on 73 for 3.

Cosker ensured there was no let-up for the Division Two leaders in the afternoon session, taking the wickets of Alexei Kervezee, Ross Whiteley and Ben Cox to leave Worcestershire reeling on 125 for 6. Wagg then got back in on the action with his third wicket as debutant Tom Helm, on loan from Middlesex, produced a great catch at point to get rid of Gareth Andrew for 7.

Mitchell started to find the boundaries more frequently on his way to a second hundred of the season, as his patient approach continued to keep Worcestershire afloat, but Wagg claimed Jack Shantry (28) as his fourth victim before Saeed Ajmal fell to Cosker in the closing stages.